HARBIN - Qi Jinming, a farmer in Suiling county in Heilongjiang province, was happy to see his family reunited this year, as his wife no longer needs to work far from home to earn money to pay off debts.

Qi, 57, signed a contract for 18.7 hectares of paddy fields in 2010, but they were hit by a severe drought and he lost more than 200,000 yuan ($29,000).

Qi fell sick worrying about the debt.